Nearly 200 taken from Texas compound (Fundamentalist LDS)

[sonias]

Yahoo News 4/5/08
Nearly 200 taken from Texas compound

By MICHELLE ROBERTS, Associated Press Writer

ELDORADO, Texas - Child welfare officials have now removed nearly 200 women and children from a secretive West Texas religious retreat built by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, authorities said Saturday.

The investigation began after a 16-year-old living there complained of physical abuse. A search warrant authorized state troopers to enter the retreat run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and look for evidence of a marriage between the girl and a 50-year-old man.

The warrant said the girl had a baby eight months ago, when she was 15.

State Child Protective Services on Friday removed 52 girls from the compound. Marleigh Meisner, a spokeswoman for the agency, said that another 131 residents were removed overnight and that by Saturday afternoon 137 children and 46 women were being housed and interviewed.

Oh boy - here we go again.

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

1. These people are sick

Okay fine with me if ADULTS want to be polygamist, but that doesn't give them the right to molest children.

dg

[sonias]

2. Why do all the nut cases try to move to Texas?

What is it about Texas that these nut cases think they can just move here and no one will disturb them?

I agree - sick people.

Sonia

[sonias]

3. Polygamist sect blocks state in search for girl

AAS 4/6/08
Polygamist sect blocks state in search for girl
Authorities negotiate but get ready for confrontation.

ELDORADO — Sect leaders at a polygamist compound in West Texas refused Saturday to let authorities search a temple for a teenage girl whose report of abuse led to the raid, and authorities said they were preparing for the worst.

If no agreement is reached with sect leaders, authorities will forcibly remove the sect's followers "as peaceably as possible," Allison Palmer, a prosecutor in Tom Green County, told the San Angelo Standard-Times.

Medical workers are being sent "in case this were to go in a way that no one wants," Palmer said.

I hope this doesn't turn into another Waco incident. Today's update says they still haven't found the girl.

AAS 4/07/08
Dozens from polygamist compound bused to city
Authorities still can't find teen who made complaint.

ELDORADO — State Child Protective Services and law enforcement officials on Sunday were still trying to find and remove all the children living at a West Texas compound founded by polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

They've been unable to locate the teen whose complaint prompted the raid. No arrests have been made.

Nearly 160 children, accompanied by 60 adults, had left the compound by Sunday, but CPS spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said authorities were still looking for others. It was not clear how many children may still be on the sprawling desert ranch, which has multiple buildings.

Sonia

[sonias]

4. Girl whose call triggered raid complained of being beaten

AAS 4/08/08
Girl whose call triggered raid complained of being beaten, officials say
CPS workers finish search of ranch, investigation continues

The 16-year-old girl whose outcry triggered the largest Child Protective Services operation in state history told a West Texas family violence shelter that she was wife No. 7 of a man who beat her when he was angry, at one point breaking her ribs, state officials said.

CPS on Monday night moved 15 more children from the Eldorado compound built by jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, bringing to 416 the number of children in temporary state custody in San Angelo shelters, officials said Tuesday.
(snip)
The agency still doesn't know whether the 16-year-old was among the children pulled from the compound, CPS officials said.

Warren Jeffs and his cult are sick wackos! I hope that girl turns up safe.

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

5. The state is going to have to process 400 kids

egads. That's a lot of attorneys. :crazy:

dg

[tammywammy]

6. And a lot of foster homes

They're working hard that the foster families know what kind of environment these children have been raised in.

[sonias]

7. Stupidist thing I've ever heard a TX lawman say

AAS 4/11/08
Past trailed sect to Texas, but its secrecy kept state officials at bay
Sheriff says he's worked with an informant for years, but couldn't act until girl called shelter.

(snip)
"We are aware that this group is capable of" sexually abusing girls, Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran said. "But there again, this is the United States. We are going to respect them. We're not going to violate their civil rights until we get an outcry."

Doran said it was not until after the raid began that he learned that the sect was, in fact, marrying off underage girls at the compound and had a bed in its temple where the girls were required to immediately consummate their marriages. Also, investigators say a number of teens there are pregnant.

"We are aware that this group is capable of" sexually abusing girls, Schleicher County Sheriff David Doran said. "But there again, this is the United States. We are going to respect them."

He's going to respect pedophiles - is this what Sheriff David Doran said? :wtf: :grr:

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

8. They had to wait until someone made a complaint

(they were trying to avoid another Waco & did)

Once the complaint was made, they put their plan into action. But, yeah, the way he said that leaves a lot to be desired. Please note that this has been going on in Utah, with people coming forward & complaining & the authorities did nothing for decades.

dg

[sonias]

9. Abuse investigation moving into courtroom

AAS 4/14/08

Abuse investigation of polygamous sect moving into courtroom

SAN ANGELO, Texas — An investigation of abuse at the private ranch of a polygamous sect is moving to a San Angelo courthouse this week as the state argues to retain custody of 416 children removed from their parents.

Texas bar officials say more than 350 attorneys from across the state have volunteered to represent the children for free.

"The size, the scope of this effort is unprecedented," attorney Guy Choate said. "It's terribly important to the State Bar of Texas that everyone have access to justice."

Child welfare laws require each child in state custody to have an attorney.

A scheduling hearing to determine which cases will be addressed first and other procedural issues was set for Monday. A judge was to begin addressing custody issues at a hearing Thursday.

And in a related story

AAS 4/13/08
FLDS mothers appeal to Texas governor to help children
(snip)

Some 416 children were rounded up and placed in temporary custody in a raid that began 11 days ago, after a domestic violence hot line recorded a complaint from a 16-year-old girl. She said she was suffering physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her 50-year-old husband.

The one-page letter, signed by three women who claim they represent others, says about 15 mothers were away from the property when their children were removed.

"We were contacted and told our homes had been raided, our children taken away with no explanation, and because of law enforcement blockade preventing entering or leaving the ranch, we were unable to get to our homes and had no-where to go," it said. "As of Wednesday, April 9, 2008, we have been permitted to return to our empty, ransacked homes, heartsick and lonely."

The mothers said they want Perry to examine the conditions in which the removed children have been placed.

"You would be appalled," the letter said. "Many of our children have become sick as a result of the conditions they have been placed in. Some have even had to be taken to the hospital. Our innocent children are continually being questioned on things they know nothing about. The physical examinations were horrifying to the children. The exposure to these conditions is traumatizing them."

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

10. Pray for me

we're going up there. Not sure what we're going to find.

dg

[sonias]

11. Good luck dg!

I'm sure you're going to do your best to help!

:applause:

Sonia

[WolverineDG]

13. Someone remind me what country I'm living in please. nt

[sonias]

12. DNA tests to determine parentage in polygamist sect

Houston Chronicle 4/20/08
DNA tests to determine parentage in polygamist sect

Samples of DNA will be collected starting Monday from every adult and child who lived on the polygamist ranch in West Texas.

Results will be used to determine who the parents are of the 416 children removed earlier this month from the Yearning for Zion Ranch outside of Eldorado.

State District Judge Barbara Walther ruled on Friday that the children would remain in state custody for at least six more weeks.

"We are focusing on collecting DNA samples," Children Protective Services, spokeswoman Shari Pulliam said Sunday. "Once that is complete, we will place the children in foster care."

Sonia

[hobbit709]

14. Friend of mine that works for TX "Homeland Security"

says the state has already spent over $8 million so far. Where is that money coming from-what other services is Goodhair gonna cut?

[sonias]

15. Social services I'm sure

After all he can say these are social services. It's going to come out of DHS budget for sure.

Sonia